10 Greatest People of 2011

We at Patch realize that within every community, there are community leaders, civic association presidents, concerned citizens and business owners who are at the core of daily life in Hauppauge

There are also those who work, often silently behind the scenes, to make the Hauppauge and Nesconset communities a better place to live. They step forward to volunteer their time and effort, leading by example or worked for charity.

We at Patch would like to recognize those who have taken the extra step, helped charity as our 10 Greatest People of 2011:

1. Bob Policastro: Bob Policastro's name is known by everyone from Stony Brook University to among Hauppauge's teaching staff for working tirelessly to help sick children and their families through his nonprofit organization,. The organization helps provide aid and services to children who are in need of intensive care and services, and runs two homes on Long Island, including one in nearby Smithtown. Policastro is personally involved in every step from visiting the homes to organizing fundraisers, and has been nominated by several residents as one of the Greatest People in Hauppauge.

2. Attorney Charles Russo and Elyse Craft: This Hauppauge-based attorney and Craft, his assistant, single-handedly organize the nonprofit organization . It helps to make sure Santa Claus can reach homeless, foster care, and needy children in Suffolk and Nassau counties. But that's only a small part of what they do. They have also help summer camps and helped figure out college financing for many children in need, to help them succeed.

3. James Semon: Semon is the leader of that aim to increase safety of more than 200 households in the Commack hills and bird section of Hauppauge. He tracks income email and phone calls for suspicious activity, enters it into a database and where appropriate notifies residents to be aware of behavior and notifies Suffolk's community outreach officers.

4. Alissa Zipperian: This local mother and member of the Hauppauge Youth Organization's Womens Softball League organized the for her friend, Commack mother Kelly Feeney, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, that raised more than $25,000.

5. Eileen Ryan and Greta Helmke: These two Hauppauge widows have taken to the front line to fight for the rights of other 9/11 first responder widows in New York State and Washington D.C. This year, they celebrated the unveiling of the on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

6. Geri Richter: Richter has stepped up as president of the Hauppauge Board of Education, leading a group of seven trustees in overseeing a budget and making decisions impacting the future of Hauppauge Public Schools. It's an unpaid position with long hours and frequent meetings during difficult economic times.

7. John Carbone, Nolan Conway, and Caroline Seo: These Hauppauge High School students organized the in April that raised more than $4,000 for Japan tsunami victims. They organized local bands into a night of entertainment that brought the entire community together.

8. Derek and Shilo Nochisaki: These two brothers helped oversee a , raising more than $1,600 for the charity in a few hours.

9. Chris North: A Hauppauge High School graduate of 2011 who took the initiative to implement " North sold candy bars in Hauppauge Industrial Park business offices to raise more than $1,200 for Angela's House.

10. Stephanie Scaduto: Scaduto is the new president of Hauppauge's PTA Council who has taken initiative to lead the school district's PTA through both her actions and words.

Do you know of someone making a difference in the Hauppauge or Nesconset community? Tell us about it at Patch by emailing the editor at sara-megan.walsh@patch.com.